Fishfinder help - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

Oxbeast1210 · 12-19-2014, 06:04 PM

Im trying to decide on which of the following fishfinders to get. I did some research and am more confused then ever. I'm debating between the following:

Lowrance HDS 5 or 7
and
raymarine dragonfly 5.6 or 7

I have a PA12 and will be fishing La jolla and the Bays

Tell me which one gets your vote and if there is anything I should take into consideration . Also if you have the dragonfly how do you like it?

thanks
Oscar

tacmik · 12-19-2014, 06:06 PM

dragon fly

danjor · 12-19-2014, 06:16 PM

I personally have a HDS 7 and it is great. But personlly I'd like to switch to a dragonfly 7 due to the structure scan which cost too much to add to lowrance...

tsugg · 12-19-2014, 06:24 PM

Dragonfly. It's like watching the fish bite your lure!!!
My lowrance freaks out in 4' of bay water covered with grass.
Dragonfly shows the fish in the grass!

TJones · 12-19-2014, 07:47 PM

Hds gen 3 . They are just releasing info at manufacturers website . Not available in stores yet . Lowrance products work well with the new hobies .

danjor · 12-20-2014, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TJones

Hds gen 3 . They are just releasing info at manufacturers website . Not available in stores yet . Lowrance products work well with the new hobies .

Oooo I just looked up the gen 3. I think I might sell my gen 2 and grab a gen 3 when they come out. Just where to put all 3 transducers on a pro angler 14. Guess you could do the thru hull chirp and broadband and put the big structure scan just on the bottom where the cart won't hit it. Anyone want to buy a HDS7 gen 2

cell128 · 12-20-2014, 05:52 AM

I got a elite hdi4 in hull mount on non Lawrence ready outback.... Would it make a big difference if the ducer was In the water as far as picture clarity? I always have a hard time reading it in 150+ ft depth....anyone else experience this or should I tinker with the settings. What's a good setup for u if u have this unit?

Bert Vega · 12-20-2014, 06:21 AM

I love my hds 7. Went thru this same thing just a little while ago. The only flaw I see with the dragon fly. Is it has no adjustability turn on and go.

tsugg · 12-30-2014, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bert Vega

I love my hds 7. Went thru this same thing just a little while ago. The only flaw I see with the dragon fly. Is it has no adjustability turn on and go.

I've been studing the manual and practicing on the water and you can adjust just about everything on the DragonFly if you need to. I've been zooming in to just the bottom 100'(say from 85' to the bottom 100') of water and can really get a great look a deep structure. Saw fish crusing around at 75' with a bottom depth of 110' and I can zoom just that 75' area if needed so even though it works fantastic on auto you can run the dragonfly any way you want or need.

Oxbeast1210 · 01-05-2015, 12:57 PM

Mine came in today gonna install it later tonight. Man I'm going to love the 7 inch screen its sweet!

Bert Vega · 12-20-2014, 06:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cell128

I got a elite hdi4 in hull mount on non Lawrence ready outback.... Would it make a big difference if the ducer was In the water as far as picture clarity? I always have a hard time reading it in 150+ ft depth....anyone else experience this or should I tinker with the settings. What's a good setup for u if u have this unit?

It will make a big difference. Had a elite 5 in the hull. Now have lowrance ready. Night and day difference between the two.

YakDout · 12-20-2014, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bert Vega

It will make a big difference. Had a elite 5 in the hull. Now have lowrance ready. Night and day difference between the two.

I second that. Big difference. Plus temp readings help.

cell128 · 12-20-2014, 06:29 AM

Damn...I thought I was crazy.....I might try a over the side pvc setup or through scupper hole....unless I sell the outback and upgrade to one with duxer ready mount...thanks for the tip

octico · 12-20-2014, 06:46 AM

I have the DragonFly 5.6 ... what a difference from my old Elite-4. I would be sitting next to folks and they would be telling the was structure underneath, I saw nothing. The DragonFly is amazing no configuration, just plug it in and go. I can see structure in 200 ft of water where before I was not able to.

Silbaugh4liberty · 01-05-2015, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octico

I have the DragonFly 5.6 ... what a difference from my old Elite-4. I would be sitting next to folks and they would be telling the was structure underneath, I saw nothing. The DragonFly is amazing no configuration, just plug it in and go. I can see structure in 200 ft of water where before I was not able to.

No wonder why you were so eager to have some wagers going on the rockfish a few months back!!! I better hurry up and upgrade before March! The x-4 is crap in Newport Canyon.

I'm jealous, take some pics as you go over the canyon in La Jolla next time Oxbeast. I want to see what it picks up.

Oxbeast1210 · 01-06-2015, 07:50 AM

Will do! im going to try to take it out tomorrow . I dont like the joystick so far... but everything else is sweet

tsugg · 01-06-2015, 08:00 AM

The joystick becomes an extension of your finger once you're used to it. For pictures you'll notice in the instructions, you can take a quick screen shot of anything on the screen any time you want. Then download it to your putr.

cell128 · 12-20-2014, 07:58 AM

Thanks guys. Gonna rig something up

Oxbeast1210 · 12-20-2014, 08:11 AM

The GEn 3 does look sweet but out of my budget for now.

thanks for the input everyone i'm leaning towards the dragonfly 7

cell128 · 12-20-2014, 12:32 PM

Does she have a sister?

12-19-2014, 06:04 PM	#1
Oxbeast1210 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 421	Fishfinder help Im trying to decide on which of the following fishfinders to get. I did some research and am more confused then ever. I'm debating between the following: Lowrance HDS 5 or 7 and raymarine dragonfly 5.6 or 7 I have a PA12 and will be fishing La jolla and the Bays Tell me which one gets your vote and if there is anything I should take into consideration . Also if you have the dragonfly how do you like it? thanks Oscar

12-19-2014, 06:06 PM	#2
tacmik Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: East County Posts: 914	dragon fly __________________

12-19-2014, 07:47 PM	#5
TJones Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,523	Check out the new Hds gen 3 . They are just releasing info at manufacturers website . Not available in stores yet . Lowrance products work well with the new hobies .

12-20-2014, 05:52 AM	#7
cell128 lizard king Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lakewood Posts: 520	I got a elite hdi4 in hull mount on non Lawrence ready outback.... Would it make a big difference if the ducer was In the water as far as picture clarity? I always have a hard time reading it in 150+ ft depth....anyone else experience this or should I tinker with the settings. What's a good setup for u if u have this unit? Last edited by cell128; 12-20-2014 at 05:59 AM.

01-06-2015, 08:00 AM	#17
tsugg LOWSPARK Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: CARLSBAD Posts: 251	Joystick The joystick becomes an extension of your finger once you're used to it. For pictures you'll notice in the instructions, you can take a quick screen shot of anything on the screen any time you want. Then download it to your putr.

12-19-2014, 06:16 PM	#3
danjor Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Riverside CA Posts: 673	I personally have a HDS 7 and it is great. But personlly I'd like to switch to a dragonfly 7 due to the structure scan which cost too much to add to lowrance...

12-19-2014, 06:24 PM	#4
tsugg LOWSPARK Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: CARLSBAD Posts: 251	Dragonfly. It's like watching the fish bite your lure!!! My lowrance freaks out in 4' of bay water covered with grass. Dragonfly shows the fish in the grass!

12-20-2014, 06:21 AM	#8
Bert Vega Tail Chaser! Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Murrieta Posts: 627	I love my hds 7. Went thru this same thing just a little while ago. The only flaw I see with the dragon fly. Is it has no adjustability turn on and go.

12-20-2014, 06:29 AM	#13
cell128 lizard king Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lakewood Posts: 520	Damn...I thought I was crazy.....I might try a over the side pvc setup or through scupper hole....unless I sell the outback and upgrade to one with duxer ready mount...thanks for the tip

12-20-2014, 06:46 AM	#14
octico Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: The city of Orange Posts: 1,278	I have the DragonFly 5.6 ... what a difference from my old Elite-4. I would be sitting next to folks and they would be telling the was structure underneath, I saw nothing. The DragonFly is amazing no configuration, just plug it in and go. I can see structure in 200 ft of water where before I was not able to.

01-06-2015, 07:50 AM	#16
Oxbeast1210 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 421	Will do! im going to try to take it out tomorrow . I dont like the joystick so far... but everything else is sweet

12-20-2014, 07:58 AM	#18
cell128 lizard king Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lakewood Posts: 520	Thanks guys. Gonna rig something up

12-20-2014, 08:11 AM	#19
Oxbeast1210 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Diego Posts: 421	The GEn 3 does look sweet but out of my budget for now. thanks for the input everyone i'm leaning towards the dragonfly 7

12-20-2014, 12:32 PM	#20
cell128 lizard king Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: Lakewood Posts: 520	Does she have a sister?